The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Designate \Des"ig*nate\, a. [L. designatus, p. p. of designare.
   See Design, v. t.]
   Designated; appointed; chosen. [R.] --Sir G. Buck.
   [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Designate \Des"ig*nate\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Designated; p.
   pr. & vb. n. Designating.]
   1. To mark out and make known; to point out; to name; to
      indicate; to show; to distinguish by marks or description;
      to specify; as, to designate the boundaries of a country;
      to designate the rioters who are to be arrested.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. To call by a distinctive title; to name.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. To indicate or set apart for a purpose or duty; -- with to
      or for; as, to designate an officer for or to the command
      of a post or station.

   Syn: To name; denominate; style; entitle; characterize;
        describe.
        [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

designate
    adj 1: appointed but not yet installed in office
    v 1: assign a name or title to [syn: designate, denominate]
    2: give an assignment to (a person) to a post, or assign a task
       to (a person) [syn: delegate, designate, depute,
       assign]
    3: indicate a place, direction, person, or thing; either
       spatially or figuratively; "I showed the customer the glove
       section"; "He pointed to the empty parking space"; "he
       indicated his opponents" [syn: indicate, point,
       designate, show]
    4: decree or designate beforehand; "She was destined to become a
       great pianist" [syn: destine, fate, doom, designate]
    5: design or destine; "She was intended to become the director"
       [syn: intend, destine, designate, specify]